Crossword compiling might be a little trickier in a pandemic, but the puzzles keep coming ...
Shall we check in with the Guardian’s setters? How are they doing, and how is the lockdown affecting their puzzles?
Looking at the first question first, you will be happy to hear that, on the whole, everyone seems largely well. As with the nation at large, we see the Great Time Availability Disparity. Some setters, with day jobs or volunteering cancelled, have far more time than usual to ponder crosswords. And many of the younger ones are having to schedule slots for setting where allowed by their new jobs as home-based teaching assistants.
With a seven-year-old to look after and educate full-time while simultaneously keeping up the day job from home, I’m definitely not one of those people who suddenly have more time on their hands – quite the opposite!
I was toying with a related theme just recently, but decided that solvers probably need cheering up rather than being reminded of the very thing that crossword solving might provide some relief from.
While I’m busy with the mechanics, I can forget about the situation for a while, and I can find my way into whatever part of my brain it is that creates the fun.
Creativity and, in my case, Puckishness are essential to the process in order to stay fresh and witty, and those are inevitably a little harder to come by at present.
I set to entertain, whatever people’s circumstances.
Sending love and virtual hugs to all solvers.
Continue reading...